Pottsown woman gets jail for Facebook intimidation

NORRISTOWN — Saying a Pottstown woman got involved with those who were part of a violent street culture, a judge sent her to state prison for using Facebook to intimidate a witness to an attempted murder committed by her boyfriend.

“Facebook is more powerful than television. It’s more powerful than radio. You put it out there for the whole world to see,” Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O’Neill said to Alisha “Li Li” Harmon as he sentenced her Friday to two-to-five years in a state correctional facility.

Harmon, 24, of the 900 block of Queen Street, a single mother of a toddler daughter, sobbed uncontrollably when she learned her fate and sheriff’s deputies handcuffed her.

“I realize I am taking you away from your daughter. But you and you alone did this,” O’Neill told Harmon, formerly of the 100 block of King Street. “It’s a crime of high severity.”

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After a two-day, non-jury trial in May, the judge convicted Harmon of charges of intimidation of a witness and conspiracy to intimidate a witness in connection with the February 2011 Facebook post linked to her and two others. Prosecutors alleged Harmon, in one Facebook post, referred to the witness as a “rat” and urged him to “remain silent.”

“It rots the very foundation and core of our criminal justice system. It’s a crime that destroys the integrity of Lady Justice,” argued Assistant District Attorney Nathan Schadler, who sought a significant prison sentence for Harmon. “When evil rises up and attempts to silence good people we need to make sure that a message is sent that these crimes are serious and we will not allow our people that are doing the right thing to be intimidated, harassed or threatened.”

Former Pottstown Detective Cpl. Todd Richard, who is now a county detective, testified the witness was terrified when he read the Facebook post and believed he would be in danger if he cooperated with authorities. Schadler said the post put a bulls-eye, “a Scarlet Letter,” on the witness’ back.

But that witness, the victim of the intimidation, made a stunning courtroom appearance on Friday and begged for leniency on behalf of Harmon. The man, 21, now appeared nonchalant about the incident and downplayed being labeled a “rat,” despite telling the judge rats “either get killed or something bad happens to them.”

“The logic of that is completely lost on me,” O’Neill said about the victim’s appearance on behalf of Harmon.

“I think there’s still part fear there. In some respects, I think there’s a code of the streets that’s being followed,” added Schadler. “We know how terrified he was at that time. He can be tough now…but we know at that moment he was a vulnerable victim and that’s what this crime is about.”

The judge speculated Harmon took part in the activity to get “street credibility” or respect from being known as Sumner’s girlfriend. O’Neill said Harmon chose to be involved with Sumner, who had a violent reputation, and to become a part of a violent culture.

Defense lawyer Gregory DiPippo sought probation for Harmon arguing she has no prior criminal record, is amenable to rehabilitation without jail and is a low risk to re-offend.

“She clearly realizes what she did was wrong. I don’t see anything positive by sending my client to jail. She has learned from this mistake,” DiPippo argued.

The witness intimidation was connected to a Sept. 26, 2010, shooting in the 300 block of Beech Street, during which Omar Miller, of Philadelphia, suffered at least two gunshots, including one in the abdomen, and underwent numerous surgeries to repair the damage.

Authorities said cooperating witnesses were difficult to find because of the atmosphere created by a turf war between Philadelphia and Pottstown rival gangs and the fear of retaliation.

But a male witness, whose identity police protected in court papers, was near Miller at the time of the shooting and he identified Sumner as the shooter, according to testimony.

Based on the man’s information, police obtained an arrest warrant for Sumner, Harmon’s boyfriend, on an attempted murder charge.

But on Feb. 10, 2011, while Sumner awaited trial, detectives received a frantic call from the mother of the eyewitness who informed police that someone posted a copy of her son’s statement to police on Sumner’s Facebook page. That Facebook post, Richard testified, included the name, address, age, and phone number of the eyewitness.

The Facebook post included the heading, “Paperwork!!! (expletive) Rat!” according to testimony.

The post also included a note from Harmon stating, “(Racial epithet) Need 2 Exercise Their Right 2 Remain Silent!!! Rat B-------,” according to the criminal complaint.

Learning that Sumner, while incarcerated, did not have access to the Internet and his Facebook page, Richard testified it was logical to assume that Sumner had received the witness statement as part of the court process and distributed it to someone else who posted it on Facebook.

While listening to recorded jailhouse phone conversations Sumner had with Harmon and Germany, police learned Sumner asked Harmon if she received “the paperwork” that he sent to her and Harmon confirmed she had and immediately stated, “We put that paperwork on Facebook,” according to the criminal complaint.

Sumner and Germany engaged in a detailed conversation about the witness statement and about how and where to post it on Facebook so “everybody can see it,” according to the criminal complaint.

Testimony revealed that when Pottstown detectives searched Harmon’s residence they found a copy of the witness’ statement in Harmon’s bedroom.

In February, Sumner, 21, of the 500 block of Lincoln Avenue, was sentenced to 20-to-45-years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of attempted murder, firearms offenses, aggravated assault, intimidation of witnesses and conspiracy in connection with five separate incidents that occurred between 2010 and 2011, including Miller’s shooting and the Facebook posting.

Germany, 19, of the 700 block of Walnut Street, previously was sentenced to two to six years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to the witness intimidation charges.

About the Author

Carl Hessler Jr. writes about crime and justice at the Montgomery County Courthouse for The Mercury and 21st Century Media Newspaper’s Greater Philadelphia area publications. A native of Reading, he studied at Penn State University and Kutztown University before graduating from Alvernia University with a degree in communications. He is a recipient of a National Headliner Award and has been honored for his writing by the Keystone Press Association, Philadelphia Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Press Managing Editors of Pennsylvania. Reach the author at chessler@pottsmerc.com
or follow Carl on Twitter: @MontcoCourtNews.